Norway envoy calls on Deshmukh

New Delhi, Mar 30 (ANI): The Ambassador of Norway in India, Ann Ollstead, called on Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Vilasrao Deshmukh at Krishi Bhawan here today during which she expressed her country's desire to share the successful experiences in the implementation of programs related to local self governance in rural India.

Deshmukh assured the visiting dignitary that India looks forward to learn and share from the experiences of the two countries. He told Ollstead that Mahatma Gandhi NREGA has been one of the major initiatives of the UPA Government to provide a social safety net for the poor in rural areas.

Emphasizing the need to identify the focus areas of collaboration between the two nations, Deshmukh said that understanding of issues in local self governance, technology upgradation, gender budgeting, empowerment of women, environment etc. could be some of the areas where the two countries can look forward to work together.

Norwegian Ambassador shared her country's consistent progress in ensuring the empowerment of women and their involvement in local self Governments. She shared the progress made in enhancing the collaboration between the two countries.

The two agreed to carry forward the process of collaboration in issues of local self-governance and share from each other's experiences in this direction. (ANI)